Hospital to Home

Shoestring Forum has successfully run the Hospital To Home project since 2004.

The Hospital To Home project operates in Airedale Hospital Psychiatric Unit, just outside Keighley, West Yorkshire. Once a week a team from Shoestring visit the unit and work with patients on the acute wards. By using drama and music techniques our professionals help to give patients confidence and a voice, but above all fun and laughter!

As patients are nearing their time to be discharged they are invited to attend similar weekly community sessions held in Victoria Hall, Saltaire, with an established group of service users and carers. This aids their rehabilitation; helping to form social networks and regular routines.

Since 2004 over 300 people have used this service, most of whom have maintained good health, a few of which have gone on to professional acting training!

The community sessions are open to all mental health service users and carers in the Bradford district but a waiting list may apply depending on the size of the group.

The project kindly received 4 years of joint funding from the Lankelly Chase Foundation and Bradford NHS Primary Care Trust. This funding is due to expire in August 2011. We are in the process of fundraising to keep the project running.

Please take a look at our actors profiles page.